FLORIS VAN SCHOOTEN Lot n° 13

Still life with fruits Oil on panel 46 x 62 cm Born in Amsterdam in the Netherlands around 1590, Floris Van Schooten was a prolific painter from a Catholic family. Although very little is known about his life, it is known that he was dean of the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem in 1639. Van Schooten began his career as a painter with market scenes and kitchen interiors in the tradition of Pieter Aertsen (1508 - 1575) and Joachim Beuckelaer (c. 1533 - 1574). He also painted a few still lifes with religious scenes, but it was mainly thanks to his peaceful compositions of served tables that this Flemish painter became famous. His painting was influenced by the painters Floris van Dijck (1575 - 1651) and Nicolaes Gillis (1595 - 1632). From simple contrasting objects, he finally evolved through contact with Claesz towards a certain "monochromy" based on agreements of browns and greys. He signed his paintings with the monogram FvS. This composition is in keeping with the aesthetic principles and rules of presentation in force at the time for these paintings, which in the Nordic tradition were called "ontbijtje". Thus, the table, in frontal perspective and strictly parallel to the frame of the painting, is covered with a white tablecloth with marked folds, giving the composition an orthonormal appearance. On it are two cakes on the edge of a metal plate and a drinking glass, both surrounded by cheese and fruit. It is a table already set for a meal taken on the run, a snack, or even a rather substantial breakfast...